Tiwai smelter's toxic waste to be exported

The Tiwai aluminium smelter will be paying the greatest share of a $4 million deal to clean up thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste.

Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter. Photo: Wikicommons

Under the deal the smelter and the government will pay three quarters of the cost, and the four Southland councils and four landowners will cover the rest.

Steve Parry - the chief executive of the Gore District Council, which brokered the deal - said this was a huge milestone, because the 10 parties all wanted the problem solved, but to pay as little as possible.

"I don't think any party involved is doing high-fives and somersaults, it's kind of a deal all the parties can live with, and can see light at the end of the tunnel," Mr Parry said.

It would take about two years to ship the material to Australia for disposal, Mr Parry confirmed.